What were the features of the modernization of the Russian Empire?

Features are as follows:

The catch-up character of Russian modernization. Many processes began later than in Europe and America, for example, universities, the elimination of illiteracy, parliament.
The leading role of the state in this process, in the United States it was weak until the 1930s.
High military spending, it was always required to maintain the army and develop military production, both under Putin and under Stalin or Peter I.
There were no colonies.
The modernization took place on a vast territory with various climatic features and population (some regions were more developed, others started almost from scratch). For example, the construction of railways on such a vast territory took much longer than in Europe.